How to stay ahead of property licensing, even when the rules keep changing

Most people were surprised to see Rachel Reeves in the headlines recently for breaching local licensing rules at her own rental property. But in truth, the Chancellor’s misstep reflects a wider challenge across the private rented sector.

The UK’s licensing landscape has expanded at pace. Beyond the well-known HMO rules, councils are increasingly adopting Additional and Selective licensing schemes that apply to far more property types, including single-family lets. These schemes operate at hyper-local levels, with individual boundaries, differing conditions, and their own fees and deadlines.

According to Kamma’s data, there are now 128 active licensing schemes, with over a fifth launched this year alone. Nearly 70% of urban areas are covered, rising to 88% in London. It’s a maze that even seasoned property professionals can struggle to navigate.

• Why this matters for letting agents
• A smarter way: real-time licensing intelligence, directly through Goodlord
• Turn risk into revenue 
• Reduce risk of fines, increase chances of winning new instructions
• The takeaway 

Why this matters for letting agents

For the Chancellor, the outcome was an awkward apology. For agents, the consequences can be far more serious.

Councils have issued more than £20 million in fines for private rented sector offences, £13 million of which relate directly to licensing breaches. And because agents are often jointly and severally liable, relying on landlords to get it right is no longer an option.

Many agents attempt to stay compliant by maintaining spreadsheets, manually checking council websites, or calling overstretched housing teams. Larger agencies absorb significant operational costs. Smaller teams divert scarce time away from client service, viewings, and winning new instructions. Either way, it’s an expensive distraction from the core business of letting and managing homes.

A smarter way: real-time licensing intelligence, directly through Goodlord

This is why Kamma and Goodlord have partnered to support agents.

Kamma tracks every active and upcoming licensing scheme nationwide in real time. That means instant clarity on whether a property needs a licence, what type it is, and what conditions apply, without agents having to research it manually.

Through partnership with Goodlord, agents can access this intelligence directly inside the Goodlord platform. With a single click, they can see the full licensing position for any managed property.

Turn risk into revenue

For agents who want to take the admin off their desk entirely, Kamma also provides a managed licence application service. Agents simply refer the landlord; Kamma handles the process and charges the fee to the owner. The agent can add a referral fee, creating a low-effort, recurring revenue stream. One agent took advantage, earning 231% ROI in just 5 months.

Reduce risk of fines, increase chances of winning new instructions

Agents can then track the compliance of their entire portfolio in real-time. Through the Kamma Suite platform, or their CRM, agents can see the real-time compliance status of every property. The platform shows precisely which properties fall into which schemes, what licences they require, and which already have them, bringing the risk of fines or Rent Repayment Orders down to zero. Agents can go further by using this system to impress and build trust with landlords, winning more instructions.

The takeaway

If a high-profile public figure like Rachel Reeves can be caught out, it’s no surprise that landlords and agents face challenges keeping pace with local licensing rules. But with the right tools integrated into your CRM, compliance no longer needs to be a gamble.

With Kamma’s real-time data and streamlined workflows, agents can reduce risk, save time, and unlock new revenue. Starting with systems they already use every day.

This article is intended as a guide only and does not constitute legal advice. Visit gov.uk for more information.